Re: Background plantings for Shade

Anelle,

I wouldn't worry too much about invasive plants except for being careful
not to plant one right next to some delicate precious child.  And yes, it's
been my experience that if you put a bunch of aggressive guys together, it
will be a survival of the fittest situation. 

I've watched with interest a couple of spots in my garden where I've let
the occupants fight it out for the last 15 years or so.  In one place it's
just about even-steven between pachysandra and Lamiastrum galeobdolon and
in another, I note the pachysandra has chased a really rampant ground
covering cotoneaster (whose name I can't remember right now) right off to
the edge of the driveway and seems to be winning.  I'm not all that fond of
the cotoneaster as it is a major leaf and debris collector, so I'm just
letting them have at it.  May the best plant win!

You just have to keep an eye on aggressive plants and curb their enthusiasm
when it starts to threaten plants you want that aren't as able to defend
themselves.  But you can enjoy aggressive plants;  some are quite lovely
and they do serve a purpose, especially if you have ground that needs
covering.  It's also helpful to know in what way they are aggressive.  It's
much easier to deadhead or remove seedlings from heavy seeders or pull up
wayward above ground runners than dig up an entire bed to remove the roots
of someone like houttuynia.

As for the Lonicera japonica 'Halliana' (Hall's honeysuckle)...it's a real
thug in my woods.  I pull it out everywhere.  With diligence, you can
eradicate it by just pulling it out by the roots, without the use of
herbicides.  This works best when the soil is moist.  But, it is lovely in
bloom and very fragrant.  Give it something like a trellis or chainlink
fence to climb; watch the ground around it for sneaky trailers; give it a
haircut in late winter and don't let it latch on to any sapling trees or
young shrubs and you'll be OK with it.

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
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----------
> From: Anelle Kloski <akloski@jps.net>
> Date: Saturday, January 10, 1998 8:06 PM
> 
> Lorraine's message about invasive plants has me wondering now.  I have a
> one-year old Halls honeysuckle tucked away, not too near anything,
> because I knew it could spread.  I dont know about the Akebia vine at
> all, but wonder if the statement that it cannot be killed by any means
> would also go for the honeysuckle?  We do put Roundup on poison oak,
> though we dont like to.  Wouldnt that kill honeysuckle?  I have planted
> lots of things (several kinds of mint, for instance) which can be
> invasive, and I may be sorry later.  But so far, so good!  If everything
> I plant is invasive, I guess it all becomes a battle of the fittest,
> with one toughest plant winning out?   I think I have picked a number of
> little aggressive plants, for some reason.
> 
> Anelle
> 
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